Renault Austral review
Hybrid-only compact SUV is a well-equipped family car that offers good all-round ability
Our opinion on the Renault Austral
There is a lot of tough competition in the compact family SUV class, but the Renault Austral has plenty of appeal for those looking for a well-equipped five-seat family car with decent space. The sole hybrid powertrain that’s offered in the Austral offers a good blend of performance and efficiency, while the infotainment system is user-friendly and easy to get along with. Storage is decent, and the sliding rear bench is a neat addition that makes up for a boot that only has average space. One of the main issues with the Austral is the strength of rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage, because while the Renault is efficient and well equipped, these cars are even better.
About the Renault Austral
Following in the path of the Kadjar, the Renault Austral takes the standard five-door, five-seat compact SUV formula and throws in hybrid power and plenty of kit to boost its appeal. A facelift in 2025 introduced a smoother look, while tweaks have also been made to the suspension and powertrain to boost refinement.
The sole engine choice is Renault’s clever E-Hybrid set-up that comprises a 1.2-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol engine and two electric motors. This sends power to the front wheels via a six-speed automatic gearbox, while the hybrid system manages energy flow from the different power sources.
Used - available now
2025 Renault
Austral
13,521 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L
Cash £21,995
2025 Renault
Austral
23,466 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L
Cash £19,800
2025 Renault
Austral
17,644 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L
Cash £21,750
2025 Renault
Austral
14,307 milesAutomaticPetrol1.2L
Cash £19,995There are three trim levels to choose from with the Austral, starting with Techno, then moving through Techno Esprit Alpine and Iconic Esprit Alpine. The latter two feature sportier styling inspired by Renault’s Alpine sporting brand, while standard equipment on all cars includes two-zone climate control, park assist, keyless entry and starting, reversing camera, auto main beam matrix LED headlights, a 12-inch portrait touchscreen and 12.3-inch driver’s display.
Renault Austral prices and latest deals
How much does the Renault Austral cost? Well, official ‘on the road’ prices range from £35,275 to £38,775 but you can currently save an average of £4,701 through the Auto Express Find A Car service, where prices start at £30,928. You can lease a Renault Austral from £342 per month or buy a used model at prices starting from £17,250.
Check out our latest new car deals, leasing deals and used car deals for the top offers available now on Auto Express. And don't forget we can help you sell your car, too.
Prices for the Austral start from just under £35,000 and rise to around £39,000, although Renault is known for its competitive offers, especially on finance. The Auto Express Buy a Car service can save you £4,000 or more off list price, while lease deals come in at around £300 a month.
Performance & driving experience
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All versions of the Austral feature a hybrid powertrain based around a 1.2-litre turbocharged petrol engine and two electric motors. Renault fits what it calls a multi-mode gearbox, and this manages energy flow between the power sources and the wheels, with one of the motors acting as a heavy-duty starter-generator, the other driving the front wheels. This has two speeds to boost its effectiveness, while the engine has four, and the electronics juggle between them.
| Model | Power | 0-62mph | Top speed |
| Austral E-Tech | 197bhp | 8.4 seconds | 111mph |
Performance, 0-60mph acceleration and top speed
This set-up has been enhanced in the latest model, with a torque boost (up from 350Nm to 410Nm) helping the Austral to feel lively off the line. The 0-62mph time is healthy, and the car sprints away with the minimum of fuss, because the electric motor offers instant torque while the engine gets up to speed, if you’re accelerating hard. Take a gentler approach, and the engine may not even fire up, because the powertrain favours the electric part of the system over the combustion engine.
Town driving, visibility and parking
The hybrid powertrain works well around town, where Renault estimates that the car will run on electric drive for around 80 per cent of the time. The Austral’s comprehensive trip computer logs how often the system runs on electricity alone, but we’re confident that most urban drivers would be able to meet that target. It’s helped by the regenerative braking that’s available, with paddles on the back of the steering wheel allowing you to adjust the braking strength on the fly.
It means that the Austral is pretty smooth and refined at low speeds, while the most recent update added tech to help comfort, including laminated side windows and additional sound deadening, which is largely successful at keeping the outside world at bay.
All versions of the Austral feature a reversing camera and parking sensors, while the tall body and driving position mean it’s relatively easy to place on the road.
Country road driving and handling
There are very few compact SUVs that can be described as being enjoyable to drive, and the Austral doesn’t really do anything to change this. It’s competent enough, with relatively flat cornering and plenty of grip, while the combination of electric and petrol power offers consistent performance.
There’s a slight fidget to the ride on larger 20-inch wheels, but when we tested the Austral against a Vauxhall Grandland with 19-inch wheels on the same roads, it was the Vauxhall that proved to be more unsettled. The Renault’s steering is fine, there isn’t much feedback, but the wheel is positive and decently weighted, while the brakes are reasonable, too.
Motorway driving and long-distance comfort
At higher speeds, the Renault isn’t quite as accomplished. While the 2025 update added redesigned door mirrors that are supposed to be quieter than the older ones, there’s still some whistle from them at speeds of more than 60mph. Combine this with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine that doesn’t sound the most tuneful when extended, and the Austral isn’t quite as refined as we’d have hoped from the updates. The suspension is also a little more fidgety, while we’d recommend reducing the amount of brake energy recovery to its weakest setting for a smoother high-speed drive.
"Updates to the Austral mean that the old car’s four-wheel steering, which was available on higher-spec versions, is no longer offered. So while the car’s turning circle used to be as tight as a Clio’s, it’s now no smaller than in many rivals.
Another side effect of losing four-wheel steering is that the Austral’s multi-link rear axle has been replaced by a more conventional torsion beam set-up. It hasn’t affected the ride too badly, though, and the Austral still feels more comfortable than the Vauxhall Grandland." - Dean Gibson, senior test editor
MPG & running costs
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Renault’s claimed figures for the Austral put fuel economy at 58.9mpg, irrespective of the version chosen, so the 20-inch alloys that come as standard on the Esprit Alpine variants don’t have an impact on the official figures.
We tested the Austral in chilly conditions on roads ranging from fast dual carriageways to country lanes, but it’s arguable that these roads don’t show the hybrid system in its best light, because higher speeds see the engine running more frequently. We saw a return of 47.9mpg overall, which is more than 10mpg behind the claimed figures, but we think that this would improve with more low-speed urban use. Either way, it still means a driving range of 580 miles is possible on a tank of petrol.
| Model | MPG | CO2 | Insurance group |
| Austral E-Tech | 58.9mpg | 108g/km | 23 |
Insurance groups
Group ratings for the Austral start at 23 for the Techno model, rising to 24 for the two Esprit Alpine versions. This is similar to rivals such as the Vauxhall Grandland and hybrid versions of the Nissan Qashqai, although conventional petrol variants of the latter sit in lower groups.
Tax
Renault has been canny with pricing, and the highest-spec version of the Austral dips under the £40,000 mark, so avoids the luxury car road tax surcharge. You would break the threshold by adding metallic paint, though.
Company car users are better served by the Austral’s plug-in hybrid or even full electric rivals. Even though emissions are low at 108g/km, these days that means a tax rating of 27 per cent and steep annual costs for business users. If you like the Austral’s looks and interior, then the all-electric Renault Scenic has the same basic layout, but with far lower Benefit-in-Kind costs.
Depreciation
Residual values around the 50 per cent mark are about as good as you’ll get in the compact family SUV class, so the Austral edges in front of rivals such as the Nissan Qashqai and Kia Sportage (47-49 per cent), and is well ahead of the likes of the Vauxhall Grandland and Peugeot 3008 in the 42-44 per cent range.
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Interior, design & technology
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The update to the Austral in 2025 rounded off the nose to give it a look to match the Rafale coupé-SUV, while the large, imposing grille, distinctive wheelarches and rising waistline mean that the Renault at least looks a bit more dynamic than many rivals in the compact SUV class.
Interior and dashboard design
There were fewer revisions made inside, where the Austral benefits from the same infotainment system as many other Renault models. It features a large portrait touchscreen that’s angled towards the driver as part of the upright dashboard layout, plus there’s a digital driver’s display. The high centre console features a large sliding load cover with a throttle-style handle that you could be forgiven for thinking it’s the drive selector, but that is mounted on the right of the steering column.
Materials and build quality
Cabin quality is good, and we particularly like the mix of artificial leather and suede-effect upholstery on the top-spec Iconic Esprit Alpine models, which also includes blue stitching and subtle French Tricolore flags in places.
There’s gloss-black trim in places such as around the centre console and dash front, but there are more resilient plastics for the air vent controls that are likely to be just as easily scratched. Harder plastics feature lower down in the cabin, but overall build quality is decent.
Infotainment, sat-nav and stereo
The Renault’s touchscreen is a great system to use. It measures 12 inches across, which is a fairly standard size for cars in this class, and its portrait layout and position on the dashboard mean it’s easy to use when on the move.
Even better is its Google-based operating system, which is quick to respond to inputs and uses the same mapping software as the company’s user-friendly smartphone app. There is a mix of physical and touch-sensitive climate controls, with the latter on permanent display across the bottom of the screen.
You can sync the Austral’s system with your own devices, which lets you add navigation information directly to the in-car software. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are still included, though, while the large pad that’s part of the sliding load cover on the centre console doubles as a wireless charging pad.
The driver’s display is slightly larger than the touchscreen at 12.3 inches, but it’s in a more conventional landscape layout. It can be configured with a variety of different graphics and layouts, although some of these can be a little tricky to use, with vital information such as your speed being not quite as prominent as we’d like.
"If you’re choosing a higher-spec Esprit Alpine model, you have speed info directly in your line of sight, courtesy of the standard-fit head-up display that measures 9.3 inches across. It’s easy to read in all lights and can be adjusted for different heights." - Dean Gibson, senior test editor
Boot space & practicality
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The Austral is fairly conventional, with an upright compact SUV body and a five-seat layout, although the inclusion of a sliding rear bench does offer added versatility that some of its rivals lack.
Dimensions and size
Just like the Kadjar that came before it, the Austral shares a platform with the Nissan Qashqai, but Renault has made it slightly larger than its Japanese sibling in every dimension to boost its versatility. However the Vauxhall Grandland is bigger still, although it’s arguable that the Austral has a better proportioned design.
Dimensions comparison | |||
| Model | Renault Austral | Nissan Qashqai | Vauxhall Grandland |
| Length | 4,532mm | 4,425mm | 4,650mm |
| Width | 1,843mm | 1,835mm | 1,905mm |
| Height | 1,649mm | 1,625mm | 1,657mm |
| Wheelbase | 2,667mm | 2,665mm | 2,784mm |
| Boot space | 527-1,736 litres | 504-1,447 litres | 550-1,645 litres |
Seats & passenger space
Cabin width is generous enough in the Austral for the front seats to be split by a wide centre console and still offer good space for both occupants. The seats are comfortable, with the sportier Esprit Alpine versions featuring thicker bolsters.
One issue we found is with the column stalks. The drive selector, wiper stalk and remote audio controls are all fitted to the right of the column, while there are brake energy regeneration paddles on the back of the steering wheel, plus a drive mode button and menu controls on the front of the wheel. Some people might like having all of this at hand on the steering wheel like a Formula One car, but it all seems a bit cluttered in our eyes.
There’s a cubby under the centre armrest, while the deep storage tray ahead features two cup holders and a wireless charging pad on top of the lid, plus a pair of USB sockets for wired connections and a 12-volt socket, too. The door bins are a decent size, although they are unlined, so items will rattle around.
The rear seat cushions are a little on the short side for longer legs, while the hard seatbacks ahead mean kneeroom isn’t very flexible. This is where the adjustable rear bench helps, because moving the split-sliding bases frees up extra legroom. Headroom is reduced a little on cars fitted with a panoramic glass roof, but it’s not so bad as to cause issues. The rear door bins are a decent size, while air vents and twin USB sockets are also offered in the back.
Boot space
At 527 litres, the Austral’s boot isn’t the largest in the class, but the sliding bench adds more space at the expense of rear legroom. Renault only quotes one capacity for the boot under the load cover, while there’s 657 litres available to the roof with the seats all the way forward.
It’s simple enough to slide the seats back and forth, and they fold easily, too, via releases on the shoulders. Other highlights for the boot include a powered tailgate, a relatively low load lip and a square boot floor. The cargo floor can be positioned at two heights, and there’s enough space beneath the higher level for a spare wheel. However, higher-spec models with the Harman Kardon sound system add a subwoofer to the space, so you can’t move the boot floor into the lower position.
"There’s space for a spare wheel under the boot floor, and Renault offers a space saver in the Austral’s accessories catalogue. It’s a £350 option." - Dean Gibson, senior test editor
Reliability & safety
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Renault updated the Austral to include its My Safety Switch to the dashboard. Once set up via the main menu, this button allows the driver to activate personalised settings for the safety systems with just two quick prods. If you’re not keen on speed limit or lane departure warnings, simply deactivate them via the main menu, then you can save the settings with the dedicated My Safety Switch.
Renault now boasts up to 32 advanced driver-assistance systems on board the Austral, and it received the maximum five-star rating from safety expert Euro NCAP in 2022. It did better than the Alfa Romeo Tonale and Kia Sportage that were both tested in the same year in adult, pedestrian and safety assistance categories.
Every Austral comes with front and rear autonomous emergency braking (AEB), blind spot monitoring, lane departure warning, emergency lane keep assistance and front and rear cross-traffic alert. The latter warns you of vehicles crossing your path, which is particularly useful when emerging between parked cars on a busy road.
Renault’s warranty cover is basic, with the three-year/60,000-mile cover being the bare minimum offered by any car maker today. At least roadside assistance lasts for the same period, while extended warranty cover is available at extra cost for an additional four years or 100,000 miles.
| Euro NCAP safety ratings | |
| Euro NCAP safety rating | Five stars (2022) |
| Adult occupant protection | 88 per cent |
| Child occupant protection | 83 per cent |
| Vulnerable road user protection | 69 per cent |
| Safety assist | 87 per cent |
Buying and owning
- Best buy: Renault Austral Hybrid Techno
With just one engine to choose from, you’re left with picking the right trim level for you. There’s nothing wrong with the base model because it comes with plenty of kit, but we wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to upgrade to the sportier looks of the Esprit Alpine versions.
Renault Austral alternatives
The Renault Austral sits in the highly competitive mid-sized SUV class, so there are a large number of popular family cars for it to line up against. The Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Nissan Qashqai, Ford Kuga, Toyota RAV4 and Peugeot 3008 are all rivals, but the Austral compares well with most and is worth adding to your shortlist.
The French model’s plus points include its hybrid fuel economy and excellent Google infotainment. However, it falls behind our reigning mid-size SUV champion, the Hyundai Tucson, in terms of ride comfort and the smoothness of its gearbox, although neither of these is a deal breaker.
Apart from the Nissan, all the rivals above are available with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, making them more appealing to company-car drivers. If you want to lower your Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax bill, then the pure-electric Renault Scenic E-Tech is offered.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s not a class leader, but it does have plenty of appeal. The hybrid system is efficient, especially around town, while Renault’s OpenR touchscreen system is one of the best set-ups around. We like the ease of setting up the safety systems, and the Austral is a competent performer on the road. It has decent, if not outstanding, space but the sliding back seats might be appealing to some buyers.
Deals on the Renault Austral and alternatives
